Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
December 19, 2023
ROCKET SCIENCE
Blue Origin returns to space after year-long hiatus



Washington (AFP) Dec 19, 2023
Blue Origin launched its first rocket in more than a year on Tuesday, reviving the US company's fortunes with a successful return to space following an uncrewed crash in 2022. Though mission NS-24 carried a payload of science experiments, not people, it paves the way for Jeff Bezos' aerospace enterprise to resume taking wealthy thrill-seekers to the final frontier. The New Shepard suborbital rocket blasted off from the pad at Launch Site One, near Van Horn, Texas, at 10:42 am (1642 GMT). Af ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
After a 12-day hiatus, launches resume on the Space Coast
Space Coast FL (SPX) Dec 19, 2023
2023 has been the busiest year for spaceports around the world. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launches a batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on Dec ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin sets new launch attempt for Tuesday
Washington (AFP) Dec 19, 2023
Blue Origin said it would try again on Tuesday to launch a rocket and return to space for the first time in more than a year, after scrubbing a mission for last-minute technical reasons. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Equatorial Launch Australia Unveils Innovative ASC Advanced Launch Pad Designs
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 19, 2023
Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) has announced a significant breakthrough in launch pad technology with the completion of its Arnhem Space Centre Advanced Launch Pad (ASCALP) designs. This developm ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Competition: developing Europe's space cargo return service
Paris (ESA) Dec 19, 2023
ESA is launching a competition which initiates a first phase of activities for European companies to eventually demonstrate a complete cargo delivery service to and from space stations in low-Earth ... more
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ROCKET SCIENCE


Blue Origin scrubs return of New Shepard rocket flight due to technical issue

ROCKET SCIENCE
Sierra Space's Dream Chaser New Station Resupply Spacecraft for NASA
Louisville CO (SPX) Dec 18, 2023
Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company building the first end-to-end business and technology platform in space to benefit of life on Earth, has delivered the first Dream Chaser spaceplane, ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab puts Japanese satellite into orbit
Washington DC (UPI) Dec 15, 2023
Rocket Lab returned its Electron rocket into space for the first time since September with a successful New Zealand flight on Friday that released a Japanese satellite into orbit. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
China launches its tallest rocket, Long March 5, carrying Yaogan 41 satellite
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 18, 2023
In a significant advancement in China's space exploration endeavors, the Long March 5 carrier rocket, renowned as one of the world's most powerful operational rockets, successfully deployed a remote ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China's space programme: Five things to know
Beijing (AFP) Dec 14, 2023
When Chang'e-3 became the first Chinese craft to land on the Moon 10 years ago, it kicked off nationwide celebrations - and a decade of major successes for a rapidly accelerating space programme. ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China's commercial space sector achieves milestones with series of successful launches
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 18, 2023
China's space industry, long known for its state-driven Long March rocket series, is now witnessing a rapid expansion in its commercial sector. The Long March family celebrated its 500th spaceflight ... more

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ROCKET SCIENCE


Vulcan Centaur launch delayed until January; Rockets set to launch in 2024

ROCKET SCIENCE
China's Shenlong space plane embarks on another secretive mission in space
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 15, 2023
In a significant advancement for China's space technology, the successful launch of a Long March 2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's vast Gobi Desert has ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
France 2030 boosts HyPrSpace and Partners with 35M Euro for Micro-Launcher Development
Paris, France (SPX) Dec 13, 2023
HyPrSpace, in collaboration with Telespazio France and CT Ingenierie, has recently secured a significant funding boost of euro 35 million for the Agile Space Access Development Project #1 (PADA1). T ... more
DRAGON SPACE
Long March rockets mark their 500th spaceflight
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 12, 2023
China's Long March rocket family has achieved a milestone with its 500th spaceflight, using a Long March 2D carrier rocket to deploy several remote-sensing satellites. This event, which took place o ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Neumann Space Achieves Milestone with First Molybdenum-Fueled Thruster Test in Space
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 12, 2023
Neumann Space, an Australian-based innovator in space technology, has recently made headlines with the successful completion of the first series of on-orbit tests of its Neumann Drive, a leading pro ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Musk talks X advertising, birth rate in Rome
Rome (AFP) Dec 16, 2023
Elon Musk claimed Saturday that advertisers were returning to X (formerly Twitter) after an exodus, at a Rome meeting where he also warned Italy's low birth rate could put off investors. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE


New rockets set to launch in 2024

ROCKET SCIENCE
Rocket Lab Sets Launch Date for iQPS's 'The Moon God Awakens' Mission
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 14, 2023
In a significant development in the realm of space launches and Earth observation, Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: RKLB), a global leader in launch services, is gearing up for its 42nd Electron missio ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
UK's Orbex secures funding for carbon-neutral spaceport development
Forres, UK (SPX) Dec 13, 2023
In a significant step towards advancing sustainable spaceflight, UK-based Orbex has secured a GBP3.3 million grant from the UK Space Agency as part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Boost! initia ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Next-generation methane rocket to be more powerful
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 12, 2023
Beijing-based private space company LandSpace has unveiled the ZQ-3 carrier rocket, a new addition to its lineup that promises significant advancements in rocket technology. The announcement, made b ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA Teams Prepare Moon Rocket-to-Spacecraft Connector for Assembly
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 12, 2023
The Space Launch System (SLS), NASA's super-heavy lift rocket designated for the Artemis II mission, is rapidly approaching a significant milestone. Teams at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in H ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Maritime Launch secures additional funding for Canada's first commercial spaceport
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 11, 2023
Maritime Launch Services Inc. (NEO: MAXQ, OTCQB: MAXQF), a key player in the development of Canada's first commercial spaceport, recently announced a significant financial milestone. The company has ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
LandSpace's methane-propelled rocket marks another milestone
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 11, 2023
Beijing-based private aerospace company LandSpace has achieved a new milestone with the successful second flight of its methane-propelled carrier rocket, the ZQ 2-Y3. This launch, which took place o ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
KAIST Partners with Rocket Lab for NeonSat-1 Launch
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 08, 2023
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has secured a launch services agreement that will see the deployment of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology's (KAIST) Earth observation satelli ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
An incredible pace of SpaceX launch cadence continues with the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket
Space Coast FL (SPX) Dec 07, 2023
SpaceX sent up 23 Starlink satellites during a mission from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS). Liftoff from Launch Complex 40 (LC-40) occurred at 12:07 a.m. EST (0507 UTC) on Spac ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Professionals Satellite YPSat Ready for Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Dec 07, 2023
ESA's Young Professionals Satellite (YPSat) is making significant progress as it approaches its crucial phase of electromagnetic compatibility testing. The YPSat project, led entirely by ESA Young P ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA identifies probable reason for OSIRIS-REx capsule parachute deployment issue
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 07, 2023
NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule successfully touched down under parachute in Utah's desert on September 24, 2023, delivering a container filled with rocks and dust from the near-Earth astero ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
China's sea-based rocketry expands with Smart Dragon 3's success
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 07, 2023
In a historic event that marked a significant milestone in space exploration, the South China Sea became the backdrop for its very first space launch mission. The early morning of Wednesday witnesse ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Sidus Space and Bechtel join forces for Artemis Mobile Launcher 2
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 06, 2023
Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU), a notable player in the Space and Data-as-a-Service sector, has recently announced its expanded involvement in the NASA Artemis missions. The company disclosed that it ha ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Iran hails capsule launch as step towards human spaceflight
Tehran (AFP) Dec 6, 2023
Iran has launched a capsule designed to carry living beings in a step towards sending astronauts into space, state media reported Wednesday - the latest test of aerospace technology criticised by the West. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA Continues Progress on Artemis III Rocket Adapter with Key Joint Installation
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
In a significant advancement for NASA's Artemis III mission, engineers and technicians at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have recently achieved a major milestone. They have ... more
DRAGON SPACE
CAS Space expands into Guangdong with new rocket engine testing complex
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 05, 2023
CAS Space, a prominent Beijing-based rocket company under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, marked a significant milestone on Saturday with the commencement of construction on a new rocket engine tes ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA Tests In-Flight Capability of Artemis Moon Rocket Engine
Bay St. Louis MS (SPX) Dec 01, 2023
NASA conducted the third RS-25 engine hot fire in a critical 12-test certification series Nov. 29, demonstrating a key capability necessary for flight of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket during ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA, small companies eye new cargo delivery, heat shield technologies
Washington DC (SPX) Nov 30, 2023
Two small businesses are benefitting from NASA's expertise as they develop heat shield technologies, cargo delivery systems, and new protective materials for spacecraft and space stations in the gro ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Firefly Aerospace completes first Miranda Engine hot fire test
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 30, 2023
Firefly Aerospace, Inc., has marked a significant achievement in its propulsion technology with the completion of the first hot fire test of the Miranda engine. This pivotal development comes just o ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
First launch of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket planned for mid-2024
Paris (AFP) Nov 30, 2023
The European Space Agency announced on Thursday that the long-delayed first launch of its next-generation Ariane 6 rocket will take place between June 15 and July 31 next year. ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China's Lunar Samples on Display in Macao to Inspire Future Explorers
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 29, 2023
Macao has initiated a series of public activities aimed at spreading knowledge about China's space, marine, and polar explorations, reflecting a growing interest in these advanced scientific fields ... more
DRAGON SPACE
China Manned Space Agency Delegation Highlights SARs' Role in Space Program
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Nov 29, 2023
In a significant acknowledgment of regional contributions to national space efforts, a delegation from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), led by Deputy Director Lin Xiqiang, praised the involveme ... more
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